I have decided to take early retirement in September 2020. During the many years online I have received wonderful feedback from many readers, researchers and students interested in human embryology. I especially thank my research collaborators and contributors to the site. The good news is Embryology will remain online and I will continue my association with UNSW Australia. I look forward to updating and including the many exciting new discoveries in Embryology!

Introduction

Dr Mark Hill

Ectopic pregnancy is a high-risk maternal medical condition with an approximate incidence of 1.5 to 2 % in reported pregnancies. In the USA, data from commercial health plans identified 11,989 ectopic pregnancies during the period from 2002 to 2007.[1] In the Australian state of New South Wales, in 2008 the annual hospitalisation rate for women with an ectopic pregnancy was 12.6 per 1000 births.[2]

This is new collaborative research project between clinical researchers from the Women and Childrens Hospital (RHW), basic researchers from the School of Medical Sciences (SoMS) and research support from the HSA Biobank and Bioanalytical Mass Spectrometry Facility ( BMSF).

Our research group has established a uterine tube Biobank and cell culture techniques in order to investigate factors and markers associated with tubal ectopic pregnancies.

This page introduces the project and provides some introductory information for students who may wish to carry out an Honours, Independent Research Project or higher degree in the research laboratory. Student Projects | 2014 Biomed Expo

Some Recent Findings

This table allows an automated computer search of the external PubMed database using the listed "Search term" text link.

This search now requires a manual link as the original PubMed extension has been disabled.

The displayed list of references do not reflect any editorial selection of material based on content or relevance.

References also appear on this list based upon the date of the actual page viewing.

References listed on the rest of the content page and the associated discussion page (listed under the publication year sub-headings) do include some editorial selection based upon both relevance and availability.

About Ectopic Pregnancy

The movie shows an ectopic embryo (less than GA 10 weeks) implanted in the left uterine tube.

RT - Normal Right Tube, the movie starts by showing the normal right uterine tube.

LT - Ectopic Left Tube, the scan then moves to the left uterine tube (LT) where ectopic implantation has occurred.

L OV - Also visible is the left ovary

UT - uterus.

The risk factors for tubal ectopic pregnancy include: tubal damage by infection (particularly bacterial Chlamydia trachomatis) or surgery, smoking and in vitro fertilization therapy. Prolonged tubal damage is often described as pelvic inflammatory disease and "scarring" can affect the cilia-mediated transport of the blastocyst during the first week of development. This is also the most common cause of pregnancy-related deaths in the first trimester.

A recent United Kingdom enquiry into maternal deaths[3], identified ectopic pregnancy as the fourth most common cause of maternal death (73% of early pregnancy deaths).

Note that there is an additional code covering complications of the clinical treatment O08 Complications following abortion and ectopic and molar pregnancy This code is provided primarily for morbidity coding. For use of this category reference should be made to the morbidity coding rules and guidelines in Volume 2.

Student Ectopic Implantation Projects

This page introduces the project and provides some introductory information for students who may wish to carry out an Honours, Independent Research Project or higher degree in the research laboratory.

The projects use first trimester ectopic implantation and normal uterine tube material analysis/comparison. Studies include internal controls with comparison to uterine tube outside the site of implantation in the same tube. The projects include some types of the methods used and trained for within the projects.

Clinical

Salpingectomy

Salpingectomy is a clinical term for the surgical removal of a single or both uterine tube(s)

Salpingotomy is a clinical term for surgically creating an opening into the uterine tube, to remove an ectopic pregnancy, leaving the tube.[8][9]

Methotrexate

Methotrexate structure

(MTX, amethopterin) Drug with several different uses including the treatment of ectopic pregnancy[10] and for the induction of medical abortions. Acts as a antimetabolite and antifolate (folic acid antagonist) drug that inhibits DNA synthesis in actively dividing cells, including trophoblasts, and therefore has other medical uses include cancer and autoimmune disease treatment. Treatment success in ectopic pregnancy relates to serum β human chorionic gonadotropin (β-hCG) concentration.

Comparison of double- and single-dose methotrexate protocols for treatment of ectopic pregnancy (EP)[11]

Methotrexate is an antineoplastic and immunosuppressive agent widely used in the therapy of leukemia, lymphoma, solid tumors, psoriasis and rheumatoid arthritis. Methotrexate is well known to cause serum aminotransferase elevations and long term therapy has been linked to development of fatty liver disease, fibrosis and even cirrhosis. With high dose intravenous methotrexate, serum ALT levels can rise to 10 to 20 times the upper limit of normal (ULN) within 12 to 48 hours, but levels then fall rapidly to normal with only rare instances of jaundice or symptoms of liver injury.

Reviews

Search Pubmed

External Links

External Links Notice - The dynamic nature of the internet may mean that some of these listed links may no longer function. If the link no longer works search the web with the link text or name. Links to any external commercial sites are provided for information purposes only and should never be considered an endorsement. UNSW Embryology is provided as an educational resource with no clinical information or commercial affiliation.